Foreign Service Officer - Post-Secondary Recruitment

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

As reflected in the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA), Canada will continue to gain from a public service that strives for excellence, that is representative of Canada’s diversity and that is able to serve the public with integrity and in their official language of choice. Diverse perspectives and approaches contribute to better programs and stronger policy advice for the benefit of all Canadians. In support of this objective, Global Affairs Canada has in place a strong and wide-ranging diversity agenda recently complemented by the addition of a departmental Anti-Racism Secretariat. Employment equity may be used to address the underrepresentation of the following designated groups: women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities.

Why work for the Public Service of Canada?

Canada’s Public Service is recognized as a world class public service. Through this one employer:

• you will have access to a variety of opportunities across the country in a broad range of specializations that offers training, development possibilities and career advancement;
• you will have access to work-life balance through a flexible work environment, excellent benefits and competitive salaries;
• you will be able to put your calling to work and have an impact on your community through your contribution and the quality of your work;
• you will be encouraged to innovate, collaborate and challenge the status quo in achieving results for Canadians and our communities.

Join us and be part of a modern, leading and performing federal public service! Apply today!


INFORMATION SESSIONS ON HOW TO APPLY
Registration for the information sessions is full. If you would like to view a recording of an information session, please contact us.

French: November 3, from 12 to 1 PM (Eastern Time) https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEude6sqzItH9ahGbuRCAM3pz5etuNAopwo

English: November 4, from 12 to 1 PM (Eastern Time): https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkdeitqjkqH9Rv8rhYLUjHqcC5EMCHrW3x

French: November 9, from 6 to 7 PM (Eastern Time): Full

English: November 10, from 6 to 7 PM (Eastern Time): Full

Duties

The Canadian Foreign Service consists of four streams of work. As a Foreign Service Officer (FS), you will have the opportunity to enter the Department in one of the streams indicated below. All FS can expect to have assignments rotating between missions overseas and Canada throughout their career. While at Headquarters, the FS provide operational support to programs as well as analysis and advice to senior managers and the government in support of Global Affairs Canada’s mandate and operations.

MANAGEMENT CONSULAR OFFICER (MCO)

Foreign Service Officers who are Management Consular Officers play a critical role to ensure that Canada's diplomatic and consular missions abroad are safe, effective and sustainable. They enable the Government of Canada to achieve its international objectives, oversee medium and long term strategic planning and management of mission operations, take a leadership role in the mission's governance, oversee emergency management in response to natural and human-made disasters, and develop and lead the strategic approach to consular affairs, including providing client service help to Canadians travelling, working and living abroad. This includes travel advice and assistance to individual consular clients and more broadly in the event of emergency situations, conflicts and natural disasters. They also manage programs to ensure that Canadian personnel and facilities around the world are secure and able to fulfill global affairs Canada mandate.

FOREIGN POLICY AND DIPLOMACY (FPDS)

Foreign Service Officers in the Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Service represent the foreign policy interests of Canada in countries and multilateral organizations across the globe. Through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, advocacy, and the negotiation and implementation of international agreements, diplomats engage and influence international players to advance Canadian interests and values. They enhance social and cultural ties and promote international security and democratic development in support of global stability.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE / TRADE COMMISSIONER SERVICE (TCS)

Foreign Service Officers engaged in international business development are Trade Commissioners who assist members of the Canadian business community to navigate international markets and develop export and investment opportunities. They provide Canadian companies with key business insights and access to a network of international contacts. Officers in this area also negotiate and implement Canada’s broad trade agreement network giving Canadian companies preferred access to diverse markets all over the world.

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE (IA)

Foreign Service Officers in the International Assistance stream work with Canadian, multilateral, international and local partners to develop policies, and manage programs, in support of Canada’s objectives in the field of international assistance. They also work to reduce the vulnerability of people in crises, such as during armed conflicts, acute food insecurity and natural disasters, by providing humanitarian assistance bilaterally and through multilateral institutions.

Work environment

Working at Global Affairs Canada (GAC) offers the opportunity for a global career, and provides a wealth of international experiences that enable employees to enhance their professional skills and broaden their global perspectives. A career in the department helps to shape Canada's place in the world. Our global network is made up of professionals working in Ottawa, across Canada and around the world. Global Affairs Canada manages Canada’s international platform—a global network of 178 missions in 110 countries that supports the international work of the department and 37 partner departments, agencies and co-locators. It also manages six regional offices across Canada. This network is supported by more than 11,000 employees. With rotating assignments at missions abroad and in Canada, a career at GAC is a career without borders. We offer: stimulating and rewarding work; unprecedented professional development; opportunities to learn a foreign language, to live, work and travel in Canada and abroad; the flexibility to specialize or have diverse career experiences; belonging to a motivated and results-oriented professional team, and; the opportunity to contribute, both in Canada and abroad.

Intent of the process

The intent of this process is to staff FS-01 rotational pool positions indeterminately in the following streams: Management Consular Officers, Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Service, International Trade / Trade Commissioner Service and International Assistance.

A pool of qualified or partially qualified candidates will be established and may be used to staff positions at a later date as needed by Global Affairs Canada.

Positions to be filled: 100

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION:
Graduation by June 30, 2022, with a degree* from a recognized post-secondary institution

Note: *Degree: Unless it is otherwise specified (e.g., Master’s degree), the term “degree” refers to a baccalaureate as established by educational authorities.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCES:
• Experience in researching, analyzing and synthetizing information;
• Experience representing or advancing an interest on behalf of an individual, a group or organization OR experience working in a client service delivery environment;
• Experience leading or organizing events, group activities or projects.

NOTE: Experience can be demonstrated through paid or volunteer work or scholastic activity or achievement.

If you possess any of the following, your application must also clearly explain how you meet it (other qualifications)

A person may be appointed to the position even though they do not meet any or all of the asset qualifications, operational requirements or organizational needs. Meeting these criteria is desirable and may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed, but a candidate will not be eliminated from the appointment process if they do not meet the asset qualifications.

EDUCATION:
Graduation by June 30, 2022, with a Law degree* or a Master’s degree in an area of study related to the core business of the Department, such as, but not exclusive to:

- Business Administration
- International Assistance
- International Relations
- Public Administration

*Graduation with a professional degree from a Canadian law school (J.D., LL.B., B.C.L., LL.L.); OR a law degree from outside Canada AND a Certificate of Qualification issued by the National Committee on Accreditation; OR a law degree judged as equivalent by the board of directors of the Barreau du Québec.

Degree equivalency

EXPERIENCES:
• Experience working or studying abroad;
• Experience working in an international environment in a public, private, or non-governmental organization, such as a charity, thinktank, international organization, or company
• Experience contributing to negotiation(s) (private or public sector, international, federal/provincial, or between other levels of government);
• Experience contributing to consultations or engaging with stakeholders (industry, civil society, NGOs, academia).
• Experience in business, investment attraction or Information Management and Technology.

OTHER:
Proficiency in foreign languages, in particular, one or more of the following languages: Arabic dialects, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish.

Note: Proficiency is defined as at least level 2 on the Interagency Language Roundtable scale (ILR). Candidates indicating proficiency in a foreign language may be tested by the Department as part of the hiring process.

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

Bilingual - Imperative (CCC/CCC)
Selected candidates who meet the essential qualifications except the official language proficiency requirements will be hired on an "ab initio" status, meaning the candidate is not an employee under the Public Service Employment Act. "Ab initio" hires will undergo full-time paid official language training for a maximum of 52 weeks paid at 80% of the FS-01 salary. They will be eligible for an appointment ONLY if they successfully complete their official language training i.e. if they obtain the required level at their official language tests (CCC/CCC). If they are not successful, they will not be retained and therefore will be eliminated from this process.

Language training will be provided in the National Capital Region only.

If you have limited to no prior knowledge of your second official language, please select ‘beginner’ on your application when prompted to indicate your level of proficiency; the selection of ‘none’ would not allow you to submit your application to this process.

Second Language Writing and Reading Skills Self-Assessment
In order to help you decide if you should apply to a bilingual position, an optional self-assessment of your writing skills in your second official language is available for you to take before completing your application. You can access the self-assessment tests at the following address: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/second-language-testing-public-service/self-assessment-tests.html

Information on language requirements

INTERNATIONAL CORE COMPENTENCIES:
• Judgment within a Global Context
• Influencing and Alliance Building
• Intercultural Proficiency
• Resilience and Adaptability

COMPETENCIES:
• Integrity and Respect
• Analytical Thinking and Reasoning
• Results orientation
• Effective Interpersonal Relationships

ABILITIES:
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing
• Ability to communicate effectively orally

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

Employment equity may be used to address the underrepresentation of the following designated groups: women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities.

Information on employment equity

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Willingness to accept assignments in different locations in Canada or abroad on short notice;
• Willingness to travel, including internationally;
• Willingness to work overtime as required;

Conditions of employment

Top Secret security clearance

Rotationality: Rotationality is a condition of employment by which the employee agrees to accept assignments to positions anywhere in Canada and abroad on a regular basis and as determined by the department.

Appointed candidate(s) must meet and maintain the Conditions of Employment throughout their employment.

All employees of the core public administration are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and attest to their vaccination status unless accommodated based on a medical contraindication, religion, or another prohibited ground for discrimination as defined under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

Feel free to apply and communicate with us in the official language of your choice.

ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS

You’ll be assessed to ensure that you meet the qualifications of these positions. This includes a review of the information you provide in this application and an online test, and may include other assessments such as an interview, role play and/or reference checks. When managers consider you for a specific position, they may ask for more information before making a final decision.

Following your application, you will be required to successfully write the Public service entrance exam (PSEE) which includes the Test of Reasoning (TOR) and the Test of Judgment (TOJ). A link to the test will be sent to you by email at a later date. To request accommodation measures or adjustments during this assessment process, contact us at .

At every step, from the application process to the end of the assessment process, accommodation measures or adjustments are available to you. Examples include accessible environments, different formats, larger fonts, adaptive technology, extra time, individual testing, and more.

Accommodation measures are designed to remove barriers to a fair assessment and allow candidates to fully demonstrate their competencies. For additional information regarding assessment accommodation, please consult: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/assessment-accommodation-page.html.

To request accommodation measures or adjustments, contact us at .

REGARDING THE REQUIREMENT TO BE VACCINATED:
On October 6, 2021, the Government of Canada announced details of its plans to require vaccination across the federal public service.
As per the new Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, federal public servants in the Core Public Administration and members of the RCMP must attest to their vaccination status. The requirement for employees to be fully vaccinated applies whether they are teleworking, working remotely or working on-site. This is a condition of employment and it applies to indeterminate (permanent), determinate (term), casual, and student hiring. Should you reach the point in the selection process where it is necessary to verify terms and conditions of employment then the hiring manager or a human resources representative will contact you in order to complete an attestation.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.